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Monday, December 28, 2015

a quilt for my dad

Welcome to the last finish it up linky party of the year! It's a little odd to be hosting finish it up Friday on Monday, but I didn't want to skip it altogether. :)

Making my dad a quilt has been on my to-do list for the past several years. I started the top last Tuesday night (!!!) and I actually finished it in time for Christmas! Crazy. Pants. Making a quilt in three days isn't that big of a deal on a normal week, (hahaha!) but on the week of Christmas, with so many other things going on, it's kind of ridiculous. (My poor husband.)

I enlisted the help of all 3 kids and my husband to make it happen. The kids helped iron, counted out the quilt blocks and did some of the layout. Everyone helped tie at least a few blocks. Most of the fabric came from shirts that my husband wore in the past. He also suggested the addition of the cow fabric. I love that it was a group effort!

When it came time to photograph the quilt, I had a lot of fun finding various spots around my dad's farm. It was so nice to have my sister and my niece volunteer as quilt holders!

The back of the quilt was already pieced. I made the back for an entirely different quilt, but I ended up changing direction on that quilt. I thought about chopping it up and just using the fabric, but then I came to my senses. (Ha!) So, I built the front of the quilt to fit this backing. It worked out pretty well!

Because of the time constraints, machine binding was a must! It's far from perfect....but it will be durable!

I used polyester batting inside the quilt, which is not my usual choice, but I wanted the quilt to be nice and lofty. I used red heart yarn (!!!) to tie it. I wanted the quilt to have an old school/throwback feel. This is the kind of quilt that I slept under growing up. I knew I couldn't make his quilt too fancy or chances of him using it would be slim. That's just the way it is! :)

As I have done for the past 3 weeks, I will be choosing one winner from the commenters and one winner from the links to win their choice of 3 PDF patterns from my pattern store, as a thank you for being a part of the party!

Now it's your turn. Please link up your finishes! This is a great time to show off all your Christmas sewing. :) Thank you for joining me for finish it up Friday on Monday! I hope you all had a Merry Christmas!

147 comments:

Amanda, there are so many great things about this quilt. I like the masculine feel of the fabrics and love the fact that your family helped to make it for your dad. The yarn tying give it such a homespun feel. Such a special gift.

Oh my word, is that cow fabric old? Because I still have some very similar that I am pretty sure I bought in the 90s. LOL! I was in love with cows at the time. Great quilt! I am sure your dad will love it!

Your quilt is fantastic. You considered who your dad is and what he would like and made everything to suit him. What a thoughtful daughter AND quilter. I am sure he loved it; the quilt is fantastic, the fabrics are gorgeous and most important, his daughter made it. Wonderful, wonderful Christmas gift and finish. Not to mention you got rid of a backing waiting for a quilt and a hime!

A handsome quilt, beautiful photos and a very thoughtful Christmas gift. Love that you used a backing that was waiting around for a front. And the dark binding provides the perfect frame. Your family efforts on this finish are sure to be appreciated!

What a beautiful quilt! I love all the modern quilts, but sometimes just a traditional, older style, easy pattern quilt is just wonderful!

I have several projects in the works at the moments, so the last FINISH I had was the kids' Halloween Costumes, I think. I have 5 quilts in the works, 2 only need binding on them, so I should finish those up soon!

Your dad's quilt came out great!it reminds me that I have a quilt (similar in style) that my mom made in the 70s that I need to rework. I purchased a new backing for it and I'll need to take all of the blocks apart as they are ripping at the seams...a labor of love, but worth it to keep the most comfy quilt ever!!!

Wow, three days would be a triumph at any time of the year. Well done - and fingers crossed your dad uses it intensively! Happy new year, and thanks for you great inspiration through the past year. Mel

Nice quilt! It is very masculin (can we say that in English? Anyway I'm sure you all understand what I want to mean :) ). You were very courageous placing this quilt just beside the cows!! They could have been hungry haha! Your dad's farm looks like a wonderful place to live by the way!!

What a wonderful masculine quilt, really it is reversible! Both sides look wonderful. I hope he does use it, and feel wrapped in a hug from you every time. Happy New Year! Thank you for doing this linky every week.

Great quilt! The only quilt I made for my Dad, who has been gone ten years now, was very similar even down to the tying method of holding those layers together. "Finish up Friday" on Monday or Tuesday if you are in Australia like I am!! Happy New Year!

Great quilt, and it SO reminds me of one from my grandma's couch on her farm under which many a nap was taken by several family members! I especially love the "on the farm" photo shoot. And made in 3 days!!!

I found your blog midway thru the year and have been stunned at how much you accomplish. I have upcycled men's shirts and could make this quilt. People tend to not use the fancy quilts but will use something more utilitaritan. Best wishes and hoping your have as productive a year as 2015 has been.

Ooooh! How I looove this quilt!!! And such a quick finish with help of all those elfs :-) The pictures are in a beautifull setting.For many years I collect my husbands shirts to make quilts for the three children from his first mariage. This idea with the cowfabric is so nice, perhaps I use it too as my husband is a farmers son and we live in the countryside.Thank you for all the wonderful posts this year!hartelijke groeten from HollandFrancisca

That quilt is charming, Amanda. Like you said, it's a throw-back to when quilts were first made. I have one very similar to this one, made by my grandma, but all the patches are polyester suit fabrics! Ha! You might imagine how heavy that quilt is! But it's tied and special... though never used. :-) I hope your Christmas with family was merry. I bet being back at the farm was wonderful. Blessings in 2016.

I absolutely love the quilt!! Especially the addition of the cow print. I love that it adds elements of personalization for your dad. We just bought a farm and I am so excited to take pictures of my things around the farm and barn. Beautiful work!

You don't know how refreshing it is to read a blog post and see a simple, easy quilt that looks fabulous and will be used and loved! I started my quilting journey making levi and corduroy patch quilts, tied with red yarn, like this (way too heavy, but great for picnics!). I'm sure your dad loves it!

I love the simpleness of the quilt and it being tied. The simplicity of these types of quilts make them just as beautiful to me. And funny, it seems in my house that these type get used the most. No one will use the pretty fancy quilts in my house. Thanks for all the ideas

Amanda Jean, I love this quilt. It reminds me of quilts from my childhood, and quilt my parents had on their bed made from squares of recycled wool clothing. I'm impressed that you've recycled so many of your husband's old clothes. That's one area I've resisted. Great finish in time for Christmas!

I love the old comfy look of this quilt, the fact that your family helped in its creation for your dad, the cow fabric, and the photos on the farm especially the cows. Wishing all of you a happy healthy productive scrappy 2016!

I LOVE this quilt! It reminds me of the quilts my grandmother made using the army blankets each son brought home after they were discharged from the service. They were as heavy as an X-ray blanket, but warm and toasty! I can't wait to see what quilty goodness the 2016 brings. Happy New Year!

I love the masculine, homespun feel of this quilt! As I am part of a Lutheran church mission quilting group that ties quilts, I appreciate that a quilter like you can still call this tied cover a quilt!

Oh, Amanda Jean, your photos of the quilt with the cows looking on are absolutely priceless! What a wonderful way to document your dad's farm and your quilt. I hope he gets to see the photos, too! Congrats on getting the quilt finished in time for Christmas -- it's FAB!

I love the quilt Amanda Jean. (My name is Barbara Jean and in my family we always used first and middle names.) The quilt is the same kind I slept under as a kid. My grandmother made one for me that had a lot of blues and reds and all in flannel. I loved it but it was stolen from me by my ex-husband. But I still remember it. And if my Daddy were still alive this is just the kind of quilt he would have loved. He didn't like anything fancy.

By the way, I loved the farm pictures. Really made it feel homey to me.

What a great quilt with a great story! I love that it was a family affair! Love the colors and the backing! I especially think this quilt looks right at home at the farm! Glad y'all had a fun Christmas!!! I want to go make a quilt and tie it now!!!

Love the quilt and that your whole family worked together to get it made. My husband and I work together on all of the quilts that are made at our house. He does all of the cutting. I also love that you call it a quilt. I got a short lecture about the difference between a quilt and a comforter. "A quilt is never tied. If it is, it is a comforter." I love tied QUILTS and always will. My grandma always made her quilts this way and there is so much love in those little red ties.

I love this quilt. It so reminds me of my grandmother's quilts. I have one she made of men's wool suits and jackets. It is so heavy and warm.I also the love the cow fabric. Do you have any idea what collection it came from?

It's such a special quilt. Can't believe you finished it so quickly. If it was me I'd still be thinking about it. Something I hope to change in 2016 so I get more done. Love all the farm photos too. Makes me think of my family farms back in Indiana. Happy New Year!!

Hi, I hopped to you from Jenny at Romany Quilting. So many years ago, I made my Dad a quilt, well, not really, as only 2 layers. and many years before digital cameras. He wasn't well, and still showed how much he liked it.And my Mum, a seamstress, dressmaker, and sewer of everything on a farm, from clothes to cow cover repairs. how she would love to see all our quilting creations. Maybe you can have a few days rest now, and for your Dad, a real family togetherness, from the quilting, to the tying, to the photos.

Amanda Jean, What a great tribute to your Dad. We know how they are, all shy and quiet about gifts such as this, but I know he loves it. He's probably showing it off to folks when they visit:)I love a tied quilt and that was my first intro to quilting in the 70's. My mom got me involved w/the ladies aid group at our Lutheran church (fellow Midwesterner here from Wisconsin) and we cut up jeans, wool coats, shirts, and made quilts for our sister church in New Guinea. In fact she would let me stay home sick from school on quilting day at church, usually in Jan and Feb. Thanks for such a great memory:) Happy Monday and Happy New year to you too! Diane

I normally do not care for tied quilts, to me they somehow seem like cheating. But this is an absolutely wonderful quilt!I just love the group effort and I 'm sure that will mean a lot to your dad. I love the cows in the quilt and in the pics. I think the back is as lovely as the front. Maybe I should cut myself some slack and try a tied quilt again! :-)

What a wonderful way to remember your dad and I do hope he uses it. Yours is special because you get to see him enjoy it now. I made something similar, another idea for you. For my 3 children and myself I made a wall hanging of ties, using my Dads ties and the background was his linen handkerchiefs that he always had with him. I treasure mine. Virginia sewsewsenior@gmail.com

I love your Dad's shirt quilt, something special about its homespun feel, but your photo staging was inspired! I loved the picture with the cow about to lick it! Nothing like a bit of cow slobber to christen a quilt!

Simple design quilts without all the fancy quilting are my favorite! This is the perfect combination and the cow fabric was a great addition. I hope he uses it as it was a labor of love. shopgirl7232 at yahoo dot com

Sometimes you do live up to your blog name;). I think the quilt has a great homey "dad" kind of feel to it. I made my dad a manly looking quilt a few years ago. He died this summer and his hat and the quilt I made him were the two things I took home to remember him by. I have the quilt hanging on a rack in my bedroom. It's dirty (he had three dogs) but I don't think I'll ever wash it.

i think we all have a square block quilt that has been tied. I know way back when i was in 8th grade or high school one of my best friends ever, in my entire life, moved. I was heartbroken over the loss of my friend. I made her an quilt in 3 days, start to finish. Your quilt has brought back so many good memories. Your dad will love it.

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As of January 2019, I am retiring from my business and I will no longer be adding new content to the blog. I plan to leave the blog up as a resource for an undetermined amount of time. Thank you so much for reading and for your support over the past 12 years!